Improvement in adjustable dams for deepening the channels of streams



2 Sheets-Sheet I S. PHILLTPS. ADJUSTABLE DAMS Fon DEEPENING CHANNELS oF s TREAMS, Patented March 21, 1876.

1.1/1 Muni@ v Zz-wwwa? N. PERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. PHILLIPS.

ADJUSTABLE DAMS For. DEEPENING CHANNELS 0E STREAMS.

Patented March 21, 1876.

N. PTERS. PHOTOUTHOGAPHF-R. WASHINGTON. D C4 yI`I1.\TITE1I @STATES- PATENT Ori-rica.

`SAMUEL PHILLIPS, oF LAUREL, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN `ADJUSTABLE DMS FR DEEPENING THE `CHANNELS OF STREAMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 175,153, dated March 21, 1876; ap plcation filed March 1, 18T6. o

To. all whom it may concern:

`Be it known that I, SAMUEL PHILLIPS, of

Laurel, in 'the county of Prince George and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulIm provements in Apparatus for Au-v tomatically Cleaning Out or Deepening the Channels ot'Streams, Canals, Mill-Races, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof,

which will enable others skilled in the artto.

th'ereto of independent `and removable sections. Fig. 2 repres'ents'a plan, and Fig.- 3 a side elevation, of the same. Fig. 4 represents a plan, and Fig. 5 a side elevation, ot' a modiication of the apparatus by which its width can be increased or diminished at will, and by which the angle of the face of the dam may be adjusted so as to increase or diminish, as maybe required, the energy and action o'ithe apparatus. 1

My .invention relates to a newand useful apparatus for deepening and widening, or otherwise cleaning out, by the action oi' running water, any water course, tunnel,ditch, canal, mill-race, mill-pond, river or stream, in which there is runningwater, the power exerted upon the apparatus to efectthese pur poses being simply that` of the runnin g` water therein contained.

`The invention consists in applying to the stream, millrace, canal,'&c., intended to be deepened or widened, a movable dam, seconstructed as to extend from side tol sideot' said stream, and ofa height suihcientto dam the waters up, in order to give to them the necessary lcutting-head or power when properly directed. It also consists in constructing the lower edge `oir' the movable dam vwith notches or openings of any suitable form and` size, and applying over these one or more slide or pivotal gates, in such manner that they can be shut-down tight to prevent the escape of water through the bottom of the dam. until a sufficient head of Water has been collected for the effectual operation of the machine, after which, as inan'y or all may be raised toallow the water to rush through these openings at the bottom of the dam, and thus cut away all mud, sand, or gravel in their way, thereby deepening the channel. As the mud, sand, or other obstructing material is thus cut away, the pressure of the water forces the dam itself to move along as fast as the obstruction is removed, 'f

and this action continues until stream has been deepened.

It will be apparent that the sides of the ditch, canal, or streaml may be widened as the whole much as desired by the application of the.

same principles through suitable devices for the purpose. By a repetition of this operation the channel may be deepened or widened to any required degree, provided the nature of the soil is such as to render it subject to erosion by water under pressure.

My invention further consists in construct` ing my movable dam in detachable sections, so as to render it portable, and so as to render -it easy to take apart and put together again.

Italso consists in combining with either or all of the sections adjustable slide-wings, by means of which they may belengthened laterally, in order to adapt them to the width ot' stream, ditch, mill -race, &c., required, and which is peculiarly ad vantageous, where otherwise the addition of a whole section wouldv render the width greater than the width desired.

To enable others to make, construct, and use my invention, I will now proceed 'to de scribe its parts in detail.

In Figs. 1,2, and 3 is represented in full lines an apparatus adapted to the deepening of an ordinary mill-race, ditch, `or small stream.

The frame consists otl two or more sills, A, I

in ordinary dams, the angle is generally so made, as that but little pushing force can be exerted upon it; otherwise it would endanger the stability ot the dam.

U represents a system of braces for supporting the upper end of timbers B upon the sills A, there being one brace, G, for each timber B and sill A. D represents a system of diagonal braces to give greater stability, rigidity, and strength to the frame.

To the face ofthe inclined timbers B of the frame is secured in any suitable manner, by nails, spikes, screws, or screw bolts and nuts, the planks E which constitute the dam. The ends of these planks are cut 0E' in such shape as to give the desired slope to the side ofthe banks to prevent future washing.

A very suitable shape is illustrated in the drawing; but that may be varied according to circumstances, or as may be deemed most advisable to secure the desired result.

The lower edge ot' the plankiug E of the dam is represented as being provided with a series of notches or cuts, a, over each of which is arranged a slide-gate, b. These gates b are made to slide between guide-strips c, and are confined in position by a cross-bar, d, secured to the guide-strips c, and through them to the planking E. In each gate bis made a hole, through which is passed a stop-pin, e, into .the plankin g E. The planking E is provided with two holes for each gate, the one above the other. This allows a limited motion to the gates, but a motion snfticient to cover or uncover the openings a in the bottom of the dam, as may 'be required. This is illustrated in Fig. 1,

where the center gate is represented as being raised to uncover its opening a, While each of the others is represented as being depressed' to cover their openings a. In this case the water would only cut at the center and not at the sides, while, if all were raised, the water would cut all the way across and deepen the channel evenly, from which it will be apparent that the operator may cut or deepen wherever desired. To this end a foot-board, F, is secured to the apparatus at the back of the dam for the support of the operator, supporting-arms f for this purpose being secured to the timbers B and braces G.

It' desired, the gates b may be dispensed with, but I prefer their use; or only a single gate foreach section may be used.

In order to prevent too rapid a movement of the dam, and to secure thorough work as it goes, I propose to use, whenever necessary, strong iron rods or bars G, which I pass through the rear end of the sills A down into the material of the bottom, and thus retard the movement of the dam. Sometimes it may be necessary to use one in each sill, and again it may only be necessary to use one at but one or two ofthe sills, according to the nature of the soil or material to be removed, as at one side it may yield quickly to the action of the water, while at the other, it being harder ormore tenacious, it may only yield slowly,

and hence the apparatus should be retarded at the side where it yields freely. What is true of the mode of using the rods is equally true of the mode of using the gates, as they must or should be used so as to direct the water most forcibly wherever required, and more sparingly where the material yields freely, and thus equalize their action and give an even movement to the apparatus, relatively to the sides of the channel being deepened.

To this end also I propose to use, whenever required, a device which may be termed a rudder or guide,7 H,-at the rear of the dam, which, being acted ou by the water as it rushes under the dam, will tend to hold the latter square with the course of the stream. This rudder is detachably connected to the frame-work ot' the machine,:ahd so as to have a firm lateral hold upon the latter, and thus exert a controlling induence` upon it under the action-of the water. Its relation to the machine is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The mode of applying it to the linachine, so long as it can be rigidly yetldetachably secured thereto, is not material, as that may be effected in any known way. For this purpose I prefer to attach it to the machine by inserting its squared end into a squaresocket formed in planking E, and then cutting a no'tch into its v under side, so as to fit-iutoa corresponding notch in the lateral brace s of the frame, thus halving the two together, as it were. If desired, they may then be temporarily clamped together; but this is not absolutely necessary', as, by making the width of the rudder sufficiently great, its upper side may be made to bear against the under sideot' the diagonal braces D, which will give them all the necessary support.

In Figs. land 2is illustrated, in dotted lines,l a method of increasing the width of the apparatus by the application of independent Sect-ions where the addition of one or two will suf-l fice for thepurpose. The additional sections I' are constructed by simply securing its planking E at one end to a single timber, B, sill A, and brace C, and then lapping its other end over the end of the main section I at its front side. In this position they are then secured to each other by passing two or more pins, c, through them. A portion of the inner end of the outer section I is made to pass under the end of bar d, and is thus clamped to the other I. A small notch, u, Fig. 4, is cut in the inner end of the outer sections I', to lit over the end of the outer guide c of section I; but that is not absolutely necessary. In these sections a modified form ot gate, b, is shown as applied. In this case the gate is operated as on a pivot, its lower edgeat one end being notched so as to tit over and turn on the sill, and has a handle or lever, J, attached thereto by which to operate it. This mode of operating the gate lessens the depth of cut at the sides.

Where the current is strong, or where the width to be excavated is great, or whenever desired, each section may be made like the main section I, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and put together in a manner similar to that shown in dotted lines. This will always insure suffi-- cient rigidity and strength.

In Fig. 4 is shown a method of increasing the width of a section. The full lines show a section with different-shaped openings from that illustrated in Figs. l and 2. At its lefthand side, in dotted lines, is shown a slidegate, K, capable of lateral extension or adjustment to increase the width' of the section, so as to extend to the side of the stream. For this purpose the lateral gate K may be made in one or more pieces, theinner ends of which are made to pass under one or more verticallyarranged confining-bars, 0, which suthce to retain them in position but other devices may also be used for that purpose.

Fig. 4 also illustrates a system of slide-gates so arranged as to operate without the aid of a series of independent openings, c, in the bottom of planking E. By raising one the sides of the others form the openings; by raising them altogether it leaves a free opening across, along which the water cuts throughout its length.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a method of adjusting the angle of the face of the dam, in order to adapt the apparatus to the conditions of the ditch or canal being operated on. Where there is plenty of water and a heavy current the inclination should be light, while where there is not much water and but little current the angle should be great, in order to derive impetus from the water, that the dam, as the bottom is deepened, maykeep pace with the deepening. For this purpose the timbers B should be pivoted to the sills A, and the braces U made detachable at their lower ends, so as to be capable of being secured to sills A at different points, and thus increase or diminish the angle as circumstances may require.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A movable dam, constructed with openings a at its lower edge, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

A 2. A movable dam, provided with openings c at its lower edge, and with a gate or gates, b, substantially as and'for the purposes set forth.

3. A movable dam, provided with openings a at its lower edge, and with a gate or gates, b, and foot-board F, substantially as for the purposes set forth.

4. A movable dam, provided with openings a at its lower edge, and with a gate or gates, b, and rods G, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. p

5. A movable dam, provided with openings a at its lower edge, and with a guide or rudder, H, substantially as set forth.

6. The method, herein described, of combining, in a movable dam, two or more sections, I I', together-that is to say, by lapping the end of the one over that ofthe other, the en d of one section being made to pass between the face ot' the other and the end of a bar, d, secured to the frame of the latter, the two being then fastened together by pins o, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with a movable dam, one or more laterally-sliding gates, K, and vertical support-bar O, substantially as shown and described.

8. A movable dam, provided with pivoted timbers B and adjustable braces C, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL PHILLIPS. Witnesses:

M. M. ROHRER, S, A. FITCH. 

